JPS59188538A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent contamination by having a chip charger which moves and charges unused chips from a chip rack to a chip station, a dispenser which mounts automatically the unused chips and sucks samples, etc. CONSTITUTION:An automatic dispenser is constituted of a chip charger 4 which moves and charges unused chips 1 from a chip rack 2 to a chip station 3 and a dispenser 9 which mounts automatically the unsed chips 1 and sucks samples. The dispensed chips are automatically changed over at every injecting of the samples into a test tube and the contamination between the samples is automatically prevented. The need for exchanging the chips by a manual operation is eliminated and the dispensing efficiency is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention of this application is applicable to quantitative determination of samples in hospitals, etc.
Regarding devices that automatically dispense the same type of sample or different types of samples into multiple test tubes when performing assays, etc., in particular, the dispensing tip is automatically replaced every time a sample is dispensed, resulting in high precision. The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device for dispensing a sample.

(5) For example, in clinical fields such as hospitals and clinics, and other research institutions, when performing quantitative assays on collected samples using optical means such as a laser quantitative device, or other means,
As a preliminary work, the sample is dispensed into test tubes. When dispensing this sample, make sure that turbidity between samples, so-called "contamination" does not occur, and
Care must be taken to ensure that the amount dispensed into each test tube is uniform. As for contamination, the dispensing tip that directly contacts the sample and aspirates the sample should be replaced and disposable each time a sample is aspirated or injected, or when dispensing a different type of sample. In particular, this can be prevented.

Conventionally, in order to perform sample dispensing while keeping the above points in mind, methods using, for example, a micropipette with a replaceable tip, methods in which a part of the procedure is automated, etc. have been adopted.

In the former case, attach a dispensing tip to a micropipette, insert the dispensing tip into the sample with the plunger of the micropipette pressed down (6), and slowly pull the plunger back to its original starting position. The process involves aspirating a certain amount of sample into a tip, discharging the sample into the test tube by placing the tip of the tip on the inner wall of the test tube as necessary, and then removing the tip. When using this method, the tip is disposable each time a sample is injected into a test tube, which not only prevents sample contamination but also ensures that the test Since the amount of sample injected into the tubes is considered based on the experience of experts, the amount dispensed into each test tube can be made uniform with high precision.However, when such a method is adopted,
In addition to requiring a certain level of experience for those involved in this work, there are disadvantages such as the long time it takes to dispense the sample, and in light of these circumstances, it has been desired to automate sample dispensing using a machine. .

In response to this demand, an automatic dispensing device that automates some of the procedures of the system using a micropipette with replaceable tips has been proposed and has been in use for some time.

However, with this conventional automatic dispensing device, the tip is manually attached to the sample inhaler and ejector, so in order to prevent contamination between samples, it is necessary to inject the sample into the test tube. The disadvantage is that the chip must be replaced manually each time, which is cumbersome. Furthermore, the accuracy was not desirable in terms of uniformity of the amount dispensed into each test tube.

The invention of this application was made in view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, and the dispensing tip is automatically replaced each time a sample is injected into a test tube, thereby preventing contamination between samples. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic dispensing device which is capable of improving dispensing efficiency, has high dispensing precision, and can be sufficiently reliable especially in the clinical field.

That is, the automatic dispensing device which is the first invention of this application,
A dispensing machine body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that can move up and down inside the tip nozzle, a moving means for moving the dispensing machine body, and a tip arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the tip nozzle. It is characterized by comprising a mounting means for mounting, a lowering means for moving the plunger up and down inside the tip nozzle, and a detachment means for removing the tip mounted on the tip nozzle. .

Further, the automatic dispensing device of the second invention of this application includes a case having upper and lower openings and disposed above the sample cup, an elastic body housed in the case, and an elastic body inside the case. a tip station consisting of a pedestal supported by a dispenser body; a dispensing machine body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that is vertically movable inside the tip nozzle; and a moving means for moving the dispenser body; mounting means for mounting the chip placed in the chip station on the chip nozzle; vertical movement means for moving the plunger up and down inside the chip nozzle; and removal for removing the chip mounted on the chip nozzle. It is characterized by a separating means and other features.

Further, the automatic dispensing device of the third invention of this application includes a case (9) having openings at the top and bottom and disposed above the sample cup, an elastic body built into the case, and the above-mentioned inside of the case. A tip station consisting of a pedestal supported by an elastic body, a dispenser body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that is vertically movable inside the tip nozzle, and a moving means for moving the dispenser body. a mounting means for mounting a chip placed in the chip station on the chip nozzle; a vertical movement means for moving the plunger up and down inside the chip nozzle; A loading machine body having a detaching means for removing, a chip holder, a moving means for moving the loading machine body, a mounting means for mounting the chips placed on the chip rack to the chip holder, and the chip holder. The chip station is characterized by a detaching means for removing the chip mounted on the chip station and placing it on the pedestal of the chip station.

Next, embodiments of each invention of this application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a part (10) of the automatic dispensing device according to the invention of this application. As shown in the figure, the automatic dispensing device of this embodiment has an unused tip la.

a chip loading machine 4 for moving and loading unused chips 1a, 1a, .
, an unused tip 1a is attached, and a sample is inhaled into the unused tip 1a from the sample cup 5 arranged in a sample rack 6, and then the tip 1b that has inhaled the sample is arranged in a test tube rack. The test tube 7.7... moved to the mouth and the test tube 7.7...
・A series of operations including dispensing the sample inside, then transporting the used tip 1c above the used tip holder 8, and discarding the used tip 1c inside the used tip holder 8. Consists of injection machine 9.

The chip rack 2 has a chip transport mechanism 2a for transporting the chips la, la on the chip rack 2, and the sample rack 5 has a sample cup transport mechanism 2a for transporting the sample cups 5, 5, . . . on the sample rack 5. Mechanism 58
However, test tubes 7.7.
A test tube rack transport mechanism 78 is provided for transporting the chip mailing mechanism 2a, the sample cup transport mechanism, and the test tube rack transport mechanism in accordance with the operations of the chip loading machine 4 and the dispensing machine 9. By operating the mechanism 7a, the sample is automatically dispensed using the automatic dispensing device of the above embodiment.

The chip feeder 4 includes a base 41, a feeder drive unit 42 fixed to the base 41, a rotating shaft 43 extending upward from the feeder drive unit 42, and a rotating shaft 43. Swing lever 4 supported on the upper end and extending horizontally
4 and the swing lever 44 at the tip of the loading machine body 4
5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the loading machine main body 45 is attached to a case 451 fixed to the tip of the swing lever 44.
A chip holder 452 that can be raised and lowered downward from this case 451 is provided.

Further, a stay 453 is provided to protrude downwardly and outwardly from the case 451 and in parallel with the tip holder 452, and a tip ejector 454 is fixed to the lower end of this stay 453. ing. This chip ejector 454 has the chip holder 45
A hole 455 having a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the tip holder 2 is provided, and the tip holder 452 is inserted through the hole 455. Further, the upper end of this chip holder 452 is connected to a stay 456 parallel to the stay 453,
These stays 456 and 453 are attached to sleeves 457 and 457 fixed to the upper part of the case 451 with nuts.
The cables are slidably inserted into the holes and connected to push-pull cables 458 and 459, respectively.

Therefore, when the stay 456 is pressed downward by the push-pull cable 458, the chip holder 452 is inserted into the inside of the chip 1a provided in the chip rack 2, and is pressed against the inside surface of the chip 1a.

Since the tip 1a is made of an elastic material such as resin, when the tip holder 452 is pushed into the inner circumferential side of the tip 1a (13) as described above, the diameter of the tip 1a expands and the tip holder The tip 452 is elastically tightened by the inner peripheral surface of the tip 1a. The tip 1a is caused by the frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the tip 1a and the circumferential surface of the tip holder 452 caused by the pressing force of the inner circumferential surface of the tip 1a against the circumferential surface of the tip end of the tip holder 452. is attached and held in that position.

Thereafter, the push-pull cable 458 is pulled upward to connect the stay 456 and the stay 456.
When the tip holder 452 connected to the tip holder 452 is pulled upward, the tip 1a is also detached from the tip rack 2 and pulled upward while being attached to the tip of the tip holder 452 by frictional force.

In this state, when the stay 453 is pushed down by the push pull cable 459, the stay 453 is connected to the stay 453 and the tip holder 4
The tip ejector 454 (14), which has a hole 455 through which the tip 52 passes, is pushed downward, and is pushed downward onto the upper end surface of the tip 1a attached to the tip of the tip holder 452. The lower surface of the chip ejector 454 that has come into contact with it,
By being continuously pushed downward, the chip 1a is removed from the tip of the chip holder 452 and falls in the direction F.

As shown in FIG. 3, the push-pull cable 4
58 and 459 are driven by a push-pull cable drive machine 46 installed in the feeding machine drive section 42.

This push-pull cable drive machine 46 has a motor 461
A well-known one-sided clutch 462a is installed on the drive shaft side of the drive shaft, and another one-sided clutch 462b is installed on the other side, thereby configuring drive mechanisms for the push-pull cables 458 and 459, respectively. An eccentric cam 463 is provided in the one-way clutch 462a.
are connected to each other, and a rotatable roller 464 attached to the end of the push-pull cape/I/458 is brought into contact with this eccentric cam 463. Furthermore, a protruding piece 465 that protrudes laterally is attached to the end of the push-pull cable 458, and a tension spring 466 is attached to this protruding piece 465. On the other hand, the one-way clutch 46
A well-known crank mechanism 467 is connected to 2b, and the end of the push-pull cable 459 is connected to this crank mechanism 467. Further, linear bearings 468, 468 are disposed near the connecting portions of the push-pull cables 458, 459 to the push-pull cable drive mechanism 46, and the linear bearings 468, 468 cause the push-pull cables 458.
45975f is freely supported.

As described above, since the push-pull cables 458 and 459 are drivingly connected to the motor 461 via the one-sided clutches 462a and 462b that constitute separate drive mechanisms, the push-pull cables 458 and 459
are individually driven by a motor 461. That is, the eccentric cam 463 is rotated by the driving force of the reversibly rotating motor 461 via the one-sided clutch 462a, and the roller 4
The push-pull cable 458 is pushed out and pulled back by the vertical movement of the cable 64 and the tensile force of the tension spring 466. However, during that time, the driving force is not transmitted from the one-way clutch 462b to the crank mechanism 467, and the push button
The pull cable 459 is kept stationary. On the other hand, when the crank mechanism 467 is driven via the clutch 462b and the push-pull cable 459 connected to the crank mechanism 467 is pushed out and pulled back,
Push-pull cable 458 is kept stationary. As a result of the push-pull cables 458 and 459 being driven in this manner, the tip holder 452 and the tip ejector 454 are individually operated in the feeding machine main body 45.

The inserter main body 45 and the swing lever 44 that supports the inserter main body 45 are driven by a chip inserter drive mechanism 47 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This chip insertion machine drive mechanism 47 includes a motor 471 and a motor 4 of
71, a protrusion 473 protruding from the upper surface edge (17) of this rotary disk 472,
Swing cam 47 formed with a notch 474 that engages with
5, stoppers 476 and 476 disposed at predetermined positions so as to abut on both sides of the swing cam 475, and stoppers 476 and 476 attached to one end of the swing cam 475 to pull the swing cam 475 to both sides. Tension spring 477.
477, and a rotating shaft 43 that supports the other end of the swing cam 475. At the upper end of this rotating shaft 43,
The base end portion of the swing lever 44 is fixed, so that the swing lever 44 rotates integrally with the rotation of the rotating shaft 43.

Since the chip feeder drive mechanism 47 is configured as described above, the rotating disk 472 is rotated by the reversible motor 471, and the protrusions 473 on the rotating disk 472 are rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 472. When moved, this protrusion 473
contacts and presses the side edge of the notch 474, and as a result, as the rotary disk 472 rotates forward and backward, the swing cam 47
5 is (18) Stopper 476°476 with rotation axis 43 as the center of rotation
move back and forth between Further, the rotating shaft 43 that supports the end of the swing cam 475 also rotates with the reciprocating movement of the swing cam 475, and furthermore, the rotating shaft 43 that supports the end of the swing cam 475 rotates with the reciprocation of the swing cam 475. As the swing cam 475 reciprocates, the lever 44 also moves toward the stopper 476.47.
6, that is, between the tip racks 2
and a position above the chip controller 3.

At that time, the notch 474 is particularly designed to smoothly control the reciprocating movement of the swing lever 44.
The swing lever is programmed in advance and has a cutout so that the operating speed is slowed down near the location where the tip rack 2 and tip station 3 are disposed, and the movement is quietly stopped at a position above the tip rack 2 and tip station 3. 44 operates smoothly according to the program. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a virtual straight line @C connects the intersection A of the swing cam 475 and the rotating shaft 43 and the attachment position B of the tension spring 477 on the swing cam 475.
A side edge portion parallel to the imaginary straight line Hc, and a side edge portion E having an inclination with respect to the imaginary straight line Hc, which is continuous from the side edge portion E and gently returns to the direction of the imaginary straight line C while curving. The cutout portion 474 is formed so that the edge portion F is located symmetrically with respect to the virtual straight line C. Therefore, the swing cam 475 moves quickly at the same speed as the rotating disk 472 in the vicinity of the initial position shown in the figure, and the speed gradually decreases.
76. It gently comes into contact with 476 and stops turning.

Since the chip insertion machine 4 is constructed as described above, if the chip rack 2 and the chip station 3 are arranged in consideration of the swing angle of the swing lever 44 and the vertical movement distance of the chip holder 452, the chip insertion machine can be driven. Mechanism 47
By driving the swing lever 44, the swing lever 44 swings and reciprocates between the tip rack 2 and the tip station 3 around the rotating shaft 43, and during this time the push pull cable drive mechanism 46 is driven, thereby moving the tip rack to the upper position. , the chip holder 4 of the feeding machine main body 45
The unused chip 1a is mounted on the chip holder 452, and the unused chip 1a mounted on the chip holder 452 is inserted into the chip ejector 4 at the upper position of the chip station 3.
By the vertical movement of 54, it is detached from the tip holder 452 and placed in the tip station 3. Therefore, by repeating the above operation at regular intervals, unused chips 1a are repeatedly conveyed from the chip rack 2 to the chip station 3. Here, as shown in FIG.
A cradle 33 is supported by an elastic spring 34 inside the cylindrical body 32 having a diameter of 1.31, and is arranged above the sample cup 5 on the tip rack 2. Then, on this chip station 3, the chip 1a conveyed by the chip loading machine 4 as described above is placed.

The dispenser 9 is formed by connecting a dispenser main body 92 to a dispenser drive section 91, as shown in FIG.

This dispenser drive section 91 includes a lower main body 91a and an upper (21
) Part main body 91b and a motor M installed inside the lower main body 91a.
A heavily drivingly connected gear 910a and this gear 910a
A cylindrical cam 911 whose lower end surface is fixed to the gear 910b and vertically extends into the upper body 91b from the upper surface of the gear 910b;
11, and a vertically movable shaft 912 fitted in the tip 11, thereby forming a mounting means for mounting the chip 1a placed in the chip station 3 onto the chip nozzle 924. A frame body 913 is fixed to the upper end of this vertical movement shaft 912, and a wheel 914a of a known Geneva mechanism 914 is driven by a motor Mt attached to this frame body 913.
A vertically moving shaft 912 is fitted into the pipe via a bearing 915, thereby forming a moving means for moving the dispenser main body 92. Further, a spring 916 is provided inside this vertical movement shaft 912, and this spring 91
6 is externally covered by a column extending vertically from the bottom surface of the lower body 91b, and its lower end is supported by the bottom surface of the lower body 91b. Furthermore, (22) a cam follower 917 is fixedly installed on the outer peripheral surface of the vertically moving shaft 912 in the middle thereof, and this cam follower 917 is bored in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical cam 911 at a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical direction. The upper main body 91a is fitted into a groove 918 provided in the upper body 91a and a vertical groove 919 provided in the upper main body 91a so as to protrude outward.

Therefore, when the motor M is driven, the cylindrical cam 911 is rotated via the gear 910a and the gear 910b, and when the cylindrical cam 911 is rotated in this way, the vertical motion shaft 91
The cam follower 917 fixed to the cylindrical cam 911
However, since this cam follower 917 is also fitted into a vertical groove 919 provided in the upper body 91a, its movement in the horizontal direction is restricted, and as a result, the cam follower 917 917 is the upper main body 91a
The vertical movement shaft 912, which is integrated with the cam follower 917, also moves up and down accordingly. At that time, the frame 9 is attached to the vertical moving shaft 912 by a spring 916 built into the vertical moving shaft 912.
13 and the dispenser main body 92 are reduced, and a balance is achieved.

Furthermore, when the motor M2 is driven, the dispenser main body 92 attached to the wheel 914a of the Geneva mechanism 914 rotates intermittently about the vertical movement shaft 912, thereby dispensing with the test tubes 7 provided in the tip station 3 and the test tube rack. and the used tip receiver 9, and rotated for a certain period of time above the tip station 3 and the test tubes 7 and the used tip receiver 9 provided in the test tube rack. An action of stopping is performed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the dispenser main body 92 includes an upper casing 920 and a middle casing 921 that are screwed together and connected to each other, and a ring 922 that is attached to the middle casing 921.
The lower casing 923 is connected via the lower casing 923. At the lower end of this lower casing 923, this lower casing 9
A tip nozzle 924 having a diameter narrower than that of the main body of the tip nozzle 924 is integrally formed, and the tip of the tip nozzle 924 is further narrowed to form a taper. Upper casing 92
A motor M is attached to the upper end of the motor M, and a gear 926 is linked and driven by a gear 925 that is drivingly connected to the motor M. Furthermore, a rotating cam 927 is integrally attached to the lower surface of this gear 926. As a result, as the gear 926 rotates, the rotating cam 927 also rotates. A sleeve 928 is provided inside the upper casing 920, and a large-diameter shaft 931 is connected to the lower end of a shaft 929 that is slidable on the sleeve 928 via a flange 930. The upper end of a plunger 932 is connected to the lower end of the body 931 . The vicinity of the tip of the plunger 932 is slidably inserted into the inner hole 933 of the tip nozzle 924.
3 and the plunger 932 are sealed by an O-ring 934. Further, a cylindrical body 935 is fitted inside the lower casing 923, and the O-ring 934 is inserted into the upper opening of the inner hole 933 of the tip nozzle 924 while being narrowed between the bottom surface of the lower casing 923 and the lower surface of the cylindrical body 935. Fixed. (25) A shaft body 931 is slidably inserted into the inside of this cylindrical body 935, and the other end of a spring 937 is supported at one end by an edge 936 formed on the outside of this cylindrical body 935. is supported by the lower surface of the flange 930 of the shaft body 931.

A shaft 939 that rotatably supports the row 2938 is vertically provided on the side surface of the shaft body 929.
39 is made to protrude outward from the upper casing 920 from a groove 940 provided on the side surface of the upper casing 920.

The roller 938 is supported by a shaft 939 at a position where it can abut against the curved edge surface of the lower end of the rotary cam 927 and can be moved.

Further, a cam 941 is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft of the gear 925, and a sphere 943 attached to the upper end of the stator 42 comes into contact with the tapered surface of the lower end of the cam 941. On the other hand, an annular tip removal knob 944 is integrally provided at the lower end of the stay 943, and this annular tip removal knob 944 is slidably mounted on the outside of the tip nozzle 924 (26). A plate body 945 is attached to the stay 942 near its upper end, and the other end of a spring 946 whose one end is supported by the lower surface of the plate body 945 is supported by the bottom surface of a support frame 947 through which the stay 942 is inserted. As described above, a removal means for removing the tip 1c from the tip nozzle 924 is constructed.

The upper end of the shaft 929 protrudes from the upper end surface of the upper casing 920, and a suction amount setting dial 948 is attached to the protruding upper end of the shaft 929.

Since the dispenser main body 92 is configured as described above, when the motor M is driven, the rotating cam 927 rotates via the gears 925 and 926, and the roller 938 rolls on the lower curved end surface of the rotating cam 927. and then move the roller 9 up and down.
A shaft body 929 that is integrated with a shaft 939 that pivotally supports 38 also moves up and down as the roller 938 rolls up and down. The shaft 941 and the plunger 932, which are integrally connected to the shaft 929, also move up and down as the shaft 929 moves up and down, and when the plunger 932 moves up inside the inner hole 933 of the tip nozzle 924, the inner hole The air pressure inside the part 933 and the chip 2 decreases, and the sample from the sample cup 5 is sucked into the chip 2. Conversely, when the plunger 932 descends inside the inner hole 933 of the tip nozzle 924, the internal pressure of the tip 2 increases, and the sample sucked into the tip 2 is discharged from the tip 2. Further, when the motor M is driven, the cam 941 rotates, and the stay 942 integrated with the sphere 943 that contacts the lower end surface of the cam 941 is lowered, and the chip removal knob fixed to the lower end of the stay 942 is lowered. 944
The rotary cam 927 contacts the upper end surface of the tip 2 and presses it downward, and the rotating cam 927 of the tip nozzle is more specifically formed like a claw. That is, the rotating cam 92
The lower end surface of roller 938, which contacts roller 938, has undulations as schematically shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, when the rotary cam 927 rotates due to the driving force of the motor M, the plunger 932 interlocked with the rotary cam 927 remains in the neutral position until the rotation reaches the angle indicated by the entry point in the figure. Remain stationary at .

As the rotating cam 927 further rotates, the plunger 932 slowly moves up inside the tip nozzle inner hole 933 until it reaches the 8th point in the figure, thereby slowly sucking the sample from the sample cup 5 into the inside of the tip 2. At this time, since the sample is slowly sucked, there is no possibility that air bubbles or the like will be generated in the sucked sample, causing an error in the amount of suction, and that the amount of suction into the chip 2 will not be uneven. Thereafter, the rotating cam 927 is further rotated, but the plunger 932 remains stationary until the rotation angle reaches the position shown by point C in the figure, and the tip 2
The sample drawn into the chamber is held there. When the rotating cam 927 is further rotated in this state, the roller 938 comes into contact with the slope where the lower end surface of the rotating cam 927 is steeply inclined downward, and the plunger continues until it reaches the upward point in FIG. (29) The chamber 932 is suddenly pushed down, and the sample that has been sucked into the chip 2 is suddenly discharged into a receiver such as a test tube. In this case, the descending speed of the plunger 932 is set to 200 NrVsee or higher, which improves the drainage of the sample discharged from the tip of the tip 2 and ensures uniformity of the discharged amount into a receiver such as a test tube. . Furthermore, as shown in the figure, point D, which is the lowest position of the plunger 932 when discharging the sample, is lower than the neutral position point A, so the plunger 932
When the sample reaches point D, the sample in the tip 2 is completely returned, and by continuously pushing down and pulling back the plunger 932 in this way, it is possible to improve the liquid drainage at the tip of the tip 2. There is.

Since the dispensing machine 9 is configured as described above, first, the motor M2 provided in the dispensing machine drive section 91 is driven, and the driving force is applied via the Geneva mechanism 914 (30). The dispensing machine main body 92 rotates around the upper Fd axis 912, and the tip station 3 disposed at a predetermined position, the test tubes 7 on the test tube rack, and the used tip receiver 8 are placed above the tip station 3 for a certain period of time. Stop moving. Then, at the tip station 3's serving position, the motor M! of the dispenser drive unit 91! By driving the cylindrical cam 911, the vertical movement shaft 912 rotates.
is lowered, and the pipetting machine body 92 attached to this vertical movement shaft 912 via a lever 912a is lowered, the tip nozzle 924 of this pipetting machine body 92 is placed on the tip, and the tip station 3 is placed on the sample rack 6. The chip 1a is placed above the sample cup 5 of the chip station 3, and the chip 1a is placed on the pedestal 33 of the chip station 3, and is elastically supported by the elastic spring 34 via the pedestal 33. From there, the tip nozzle 924 is inserted inside the tip 1a,
Further down F, the tip 1aij tip nozzle 924
The tip moves down inside the tip station 3 while being elastically pressed against the sample rack 6, and its tip is immersed in the sample in the sample cup 5 on the sample rack 6. Also,
At the same time, the chip la itself is connected to the chip nozzle 924.
The tip is tightly attached to the tip nozzle 924 by being elastically pressed against the tip. Next, in this state, when the motor M of the dispenser main body 92 is driven, the rotary cam 927 is rotated, and the plunger 932 interlocked with the rotary cam 927 moves up the tip nozzle inner hole portion 933.
The sample in the sample cup 5 is sucked into the chip 1a.

In the above process, the tip 1a is gradually pressed more strongly against the tip nozzle 924 by the elastic spring 34, so the internal pressure of the tip 1a increases and the air inside the tip 1a is pushed out toward the tip of the tip 1a. Becomes in a state of being

Therefore, even if the tip 1a descends inside the sample, the sample will not easily enter from the tip of the tip 1a.Due to this effect, the water depth at the tip of the tip 1a will be different, and the sample will not enter the tip of the tip 1a. It is possible to prevent reproducibility from worsening due to differences in sample suction volumes. That is, regardless of the depth at which the tip of the tip 1a is immersed into the sample, a fixed amount of sample can be aspirated with good reproducibility.

Furthermore, when the cylindrical cam 911 is rotated in the opposite direction, the vertical movement shaft 912 rises, and after the tip 1b that has sucked the sample leaves the tip station 3, the pipette drive unit 91
Due to the driving force of the motor M2, the dispensing machine main body 92 swings to above the test tube 70 portion on the test tube rack and remains stationary for a certain period of time. During this time, the vertical movement shaft 912 is lowered again, the dispenser main body 92 is lowered F, and after being inserted into the test tube 7 inside the dispenser main body 7, the plunger 932 of the dispenser main body 92 is The tip 1b is pushed down, and the sample sucked into the tip 1b is discharged inside the test tube 7.

Next, the vertical movement shaft 912 rises again, and the dispensing base (33
) The used tip 1c with the body 92 raised and attached to the tip nozzle 924 is removed from the test tube 70 by actuation of the tip removal knob 944 provided on the dispenser main body 92. The used chip 1c is detached from the
The chips fall into the used chip receiver 9. By repeating the above operations, the sample is repeatedly and automatically dispensed in conjunction with the operation of the tip inserter 4.

In addition, the operation of the chip inserting machine 4 and the dispensing machine 9 described above and
The operations of the chip feeding mechanism 2a, the sample cup feeding mechanism 5a, and the test tube feeding mechanism 7a can be electrically controlled, and a series of operations can be repeatedly performed in a certain order by a control circuit. It is.

As described above, according to the invention of this application, there is provided a chip loading machine for moving and loading unused chips from a chip rack in which unused chips are arranged in a row to a chip station, and a fully automatic loading of unused chips (34) at the chip station. The automatic dispensing device consists of a dispensing device that is attached to the tube and aspirates the sample, so the dispensing tip is automatically replaced each time a sample is injected into a test tube. This effectively prevents contamination between samples. Also,
It eliminates the need to manually replace tips, improving dispensing efficiency.

In addition, the dispenser that constitutes the dispenser has a cam and plunger that are programmed to work in conjunction to slowly pull up the plunger when aspirating the sample, and to rapidly push the plunger down when discharging the sample. from,
It has high dispensing accuracy and can be fully reliable even when used in the clinical field, for example.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the invention of this application, Figure 2
The figure is a sectional view of the inserter body of the chip inserter shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the push pull cable drive mechanism of the chip inserter, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the push pull cable drive mechanism of the chip inserter. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chip feeder drive mechanism, FIG. 5 is a fair view of the portion shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the chip station shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1, and FIG. A partial sectional view of the illustrated dispensing machine, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line Mu-■ in FIG. 7,
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the dispenser of the dispenser shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Chip, 2... Chip rack, 3... Chip station, 4... Chip loading machine, 5... Sample cup, 6... Sample rack, 7... Test tube, 8... ...Used tip receiver, 9...Dispensing machine. Applicant JASCO Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Takehito Toyota (and 1 other person) JP-A-59-188538 (11) JP-A-59-188538 (12) No. 11 No. 12 (G) (b) Figure (c) ( d)

Claims (9)

[Claims] (1) A dispenser main body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that is movable on the inside of the tip nozzle, a moving means for moving the dispenser main body, and a tip disposed in a predetermined position. An automatic device comprising: a mounting means for mounting on the nozzle; a vertical movement means for moving the plunger up and down inside the tip nozzle; and a detachment means for removing the tip mounted on the tip nozzle. Dispensing device. (2) The automatic dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is linked to a rotating cam that is linked to a prime mover to move up and down the inner hole of the tip nozzle. Note device. (3) The lower end surface of the rotary cam has an inclined surface directed upward with reference to the vertical direction of the dispenser main body, a horizontal surface continuous to this inclined surface, and a downward inclined surface continuous to this horizontal surface. The slope is formed so that the slope facing downward has a greater slope than the slope facing upward, and the drop between the slope facing upward and the slope facing downward is similar to that of the slope facing upward. An automatic dispensing device according to claim 2. (4) The attachment means for attaching the tip to the tip nozzle is formed by forming a vertical movement shaft to which the dispenser main body is attached, and a groove that surrounds this vertical movement axis and runs diagonally with the vertical direction as a reference. a cylindrical cam drive-coupled to the cylindrical cam; a fixed support formed with a groove extending in the vertical direction; This patent is characterized in that the cylindrical cam is driven by a prime mover, so that the vertical movement shaft whose horizontal movement is restrained by the groove of the support member moves vertically. An automatic dispensing device according to claim 1. (5) a chip station consisting of a case having openings at the top and bottom and placed above the sample cup; an elastic body built into the case; and a pedestal supported by the elastic body inside the case; a dispenser body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that is vertically movable inside the tip nozzle; a moving means for moving the dispenser body; and a tip disposed in the tip station to the tip nozzle. An automatic device characterized by: a mounting means for mounting the plunger on the tip, a vertical movement means for moving the plunger up and down inside the tip nozzle, and a detachment means for removing the tip mounted on the tip nozzle. Dispensing device. (6) a chip station consisting of a case having openings at the top and bottom and placed above the sample cup; an elastic body built into the case; and a pedestal supported by the elastic body inside the case; a dispenser body having a tip nozzle and a plunger that is vertically movable inside the tip nozzle; a moving means for moving the dispenser body; and a tip disposed in the tip station to the tip nozzle. a mounting device for mounting the plunger against the chip nozzle; a vertical movement device for vertically moving the plunger inside the chip nozzle; a detachment device for removing the chip mounted on the chip nozzle; and a feeding machine body including a chip holder. , a moving means for moving the main body of the feeding machine, a mounting means for mounting the chips placed on the chip rack onto the chip holder, and a mounting means for removing the chips mounted on the chip holder and placing them on the cradle of the chip station. An automatic dispensing device comprising: a dispensing means to be placed; (7) A chip ejector having a hole smaller in diameter than the upper opening of the chip, into which the chip holder is inserted, is provided on the feeder body, and the tip is pushed into the chip ejector. 7. The automatic dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein a push-pull cable driven by a pull cable drive mechanism is connected to the detaching means for removing the tip from the tip holder. (8) The moving means for moving the loading machine body engages with a protrusion protruding from a rotary disk of a prime mover and a rotary disk drivingly connected to the prime mover, and the protrusion. A swing cam that fits together, a freely rotatable rotating shaft to which this swing cam is fixedly mounted, and a swing lever whose one end is fixed to this rotation 41'l and the other end of which is fixed to the main body of the feeding machine. An automatic dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: (9) The mounting means for mounting the chips placed on the chip rack onto the chip holder includes a push-pull cable whose one end is connected to the chip holder, and a push-pull cable whose other end is connected to the push-pull cable. - The automatic dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a pull cable drive mechanism.